Apparatus for assembling slide fasteners



1970' A. FR OHLICH ETAL 3,492,714

APPARATUS ASSEMBLING SLIDE FASTENERS Original Filed July 19, 1965 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 muz nogmmar Br ozone awn Feb. 3, 1970 A. FROHLICH ETAL 3,492,714

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SLIDE FASTENERS Original Filed July 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 3, 1970 FRQHLICH E'TAL 3,492,714

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMELIXC- SLIDE FASTENERS Original File-'3 July 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG, 4 F/Q Hilililili! mmz not: 5 none GILSEI. M

mvmuoys 8) Feb-3, 1970 o c ETAL APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SLIDE FASTENERS Original Filed July 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sht 4 mus mm mm now: crane msna mama United States Patent 3,492,714 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SLIDE FASTENERS Alfons Frohlich, Franz Hochlehnert, and Georg Glaser, Essen, Germany, assignors to Opti-Holding AG, Glarus, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Original application July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 472,953, now Patent N0.3,353,256, dated Nov. 21, 1967. Divided'and this application June 12, 1967, Ser. No. 645,243 Claims priority, application Ggrmany, Apr. 3, 1965,

Int. Cl. A41h 37/06 Us. c1. 29-20 7.s 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application is a division of our copending application Ser. No. 472,953, filed July 19, 1965, now US. Patent No. 3,353,256, issued Nov. 21, 1967.

Our present invention re ates to the completion or finishing of slide fasteners or, more particularly, to an apparatus for the finishing of slide fasteners of predetermined length.

In the manufacture of slide fasteners from continuous strips in which a slide-fastener element is mounted upon a tape or the like, it has been suggested to finish the slide fastener by severing sections of predetermined length from the continuous strip carrying the interlocked or separated slide-fastener halves, slipping the slider over the fastener elements, and thereafter applying the end stops to the respective tapes. The end members are thus applied after the slider has been slipped onto the matingly engageable elements from the end at which the length of slide fastener has been severed from the continuous strip. For the most part, this assembly of a slide fastener (i.e. to attach the slide thereto) has been carried out by hand, a process which is time-consuming, difficult and expensive. Only after the slide has been placed in position is the fastener completed for finishing by applying the end elements thereto. Thus, the end elements are also attached by manual insertion of the slide-fastener halves, previously provided with the slider into a machine for attaching the end elements to the strips.

It is thus an important object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for assemblying and finishing slide fasteners which will reduce and possibly eliminate many of the manipulations hitherto required and which will facilitate the mounting of the slider upon a slide fastener.

Another object of this invention is to provide a highspeed and relatively simple apparatus for assembling and completing slide fasteners whereby the aforementioned difficulties can be obviated.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for substantially automatically finishing slide fastener units of predetermined length.

These and other objects of the present invention, which become more apparent hereinafter, are attained in accordance with the present invention by a process for producing or assembling self-fastener units of predetermined "ice length whereby a continuous fastener strip (having a pair of interlinked self-fastener elements each secured to a respective support band or tape) is apertured to form an opening or window into which a slide can be inserted, the fastener strip being temporarily deflected in the region of these openings so that the fastener elements are aligned with and receivable in the respective passages of the slider and a relative displacement of the slider and the continuous strip can draw the slider onto the strip. Only after the slider is in place upon the strip (i.e. has been displaced relatively thereto beyond the opening and, possibIy, in the opposite direction) is the fastener severed from the continuous strip With the desired length. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the relative displacement of the continuous strip and the slide is effected in a fastener-opening direction and, during such relative displacement, the fastener halves are separated or discoupled one from the other. The formation of the opening in the continuous strip of coupled, longitudinally extending fastener elements and the inclining of the edges of this opening defined by the fastener elements to enable 3 them to pass into the slider passages during the relative displacement described above, can be carried out in various ways; thus, a mandrel can be inserted in the opening to spread the elements upon and displace the inclined edges of the opening into intercepting relationship with the passages of the slider. The slider can be shifted while the continuous strip is held stationary (generally temporarily) or else displacement of the strip can move the latter through the slider when the slider is fixedly positioned; both a unidirectional relative displacement and a back-and-forth movement are possible.

According to a more specific feature of the present invention, the window or opening between the fastener elements is reinforced and well-defined so as to preclude distortion of the elements by the slider when the latter is passed through the window and onto the fastener strip; thus, in accordance with the present invention, sections of a reinforcing foil of synthetic resin can be applied to the continuous strip and can be perforated concurrently with the formation of the opening between the elements of the strip. While the use of this type of foil is most desirable, it is also possible to provide the foil with prefabricated openings. The openings in the strip can then be formed after the foil is attached. Best results have been obtained when the openings are of T-shape configuration with the leg of the T extending parallel to the interconnected elementsof the slide fastener from the head of the T in the direction in which the slider is to be applied to the strip. The edges surrounding the leg of the T-shaped opening thus constitute the inlined edges discussed above. The foils serving to reinforce the opening at which the slider is mounted upon the slide fastener, can be severed to form simultaneously the terminal elements of the successive fasteners cut from the strip. In the commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. 403,- 003 of even date, there is disclosed an apparatus for and a method of applying such stop-forming foils to a slidefastener strip.

According to a more specific feature of the present invention, the foil is provided with stop formations defiectable by the slide fastener as it is drawn past these formations, but substantially unidirectionally effective to block reverse movement of the slider; thus, no additional means need be provided to serve as a stop for the Slider at the end of the fastener at which the slider is applied.

Advantageously, the slider presses the continuous slidefastener strip out of its plane prior to the relative movement of the strip and the slider into a position in which the slider is aligned with the window of the strip. Thus, continuous movement of the strip, for example, while it is deflected by the slider, progressively moves the window toward the slider and permits the latter to spring into the window as the latter is brought int-o the region of the slider. The present invention is operable with many diflFerent types of slide fasteners and the interconnectable fastener element can be composed of synthetic resin (e.g. a polyamide) or of metal. For the most part, however, the present invention is concerned with synthetic-resin slide fasteners in which the fastener elements are helices or meandering elongated filaments. Such fasteners are illustrated, for example, in U.S. Patents No. 2,919,482 and No. 3,063,119. The synthetic-resin foil laminate applied to the region of the windows can be thermally bonded to the tape and/or the thermoplastic fastener elements. When the foil laminate is to constitute the stop elements at the ends of the slide fastener, no ancillary means need be provided for applying such stop elements. When a reinforcing foil is not used, however, injection-molded or metallic stop elements can be used or the latter can be provided by molding or spraying of resin onto the tape and the ends of the fastener element.

In accordance wtih another aspect of the present invention, the slide fasteners are completed from the continuous strip in an apparatus in which the strip is drawn past a slider-mounting station, the latter serving to form the T-shaped opening in the strip and position the slider at its opening. The slider is thus mounted upon the yetcontinuous band as the latter is drawn past the station and the slider fixedly positioned thereat. Only after a further displacement of the continuous strip are the several lengths severed from one another.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a slide-fastener strip after the reinforcing foil has been bonded thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the slide-fastener strip showing a slider pressed transversely to the strip so as to deflect the strip in the region of the slider and bring the inclined edges of a T-shaped window into alignment with the passages of the slider;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the strip of FIG. 2, showing the region at which the slider is mounted upon the strip;

FIG. 3A is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the strip and slide fastener relatively displaced so as to bring the fastener elements into the slider;

FIG. 4 is a plan view corresponding to the crosssectional view of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the slider drawn onto the continuous strip;

FIG. 6 is another plan view similar to FIG. 5 showing the slider upon its return in the fastener-closing direction; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-6, we show the successive steps in the mounting of the slider upon the band. From these figures it will be seen that a pair of interlinked longitudinally extending fastener elements 4', 4" are each mounted upon a respective tape 1, 2 to form the continuous strip 3. This strip is to be subdivided into individual slide fasteners of predetermined length. At spaced locations corresponding to the ends of successive slide fasteners, generally T-shaped openings 6, with legs extending in the direction of fastener opening, are provided. The heads 5 of the openings extend generally transversely to .the fastener elements 4', 4 so that the window is bounded, at least along the legs of the T, by a pair of edges inclined toward the plane of the strip upon deflection of the region of the opening (FIGS. 3 and 3A). This offsetting of the band can be effected by the slide fastener itself, e.g., by thrusting the slide fastener transversely to this plane against a yieldable support surface for the strip. As can be seen in FIGS. 3- and 3A, the slider, from its position in FIG. 2, can be shifted in the fastener-opening direction (arrow 8) relatively to the strip so that the inclined edges 4a pass into the respective openings 7' of the lower portion 7a of the slider 7. Continued relative displacement in the fastener-opening direction (from the position of the slider shown in FIG. 4) results in a separation of the fastener elements 4, 4". After the slider has been fully set in place, it can be returned (fastenerclosing direction 14) to its position illustrated in FIG. 6. Thus the basic principles of the present invention can be carried out without stiffening of the edges of the opening to guide the slider onto the fastener elements. In practice, however, it is found that these elements are somewhat flexible and tend to deflect upon mounting of the slider so that it is desirable to provide reinforcement for the edges of the window.

To this end, a synthetic-resin foil 9, advantageously severed from a continuous strip and thermally bonded to the band 1, 2 as described in the copending application mentioned above, is formed with a. T-shaped aperture in registry with the T-shaped opening provided between the fastener elements. The formation of the window in the flexible foil 9 can be carried out concurrently with the production of the opening in the fastener strip, according to this invention, when the openings are punched into the assembly after the foil has been positioned at the desired location by a thermal welding. Alternatively, the foil can be preformed with the openings and a spreading mandrel or the like can be inserted through this window to spread the fastener elements after the previously apertured foil has been laminated to the strip. The projections 12, which are deflectable to pass the slider 7 when the latter shifts relatively to the strip in the direction of arrow 8, can be molded onto the laminated foil or stamped therefrom concurrently with formation of the window therein; rearward movement (arrow 14) of the slider is barred by these unidirectionally effective projections.

While substantially any yieldable surface can support the fastener to permit its transverse displacement upon mounting of the slider 7, it is advantageous to constitute this surface as a spring-biased plunger 24 (FIG. 3). An apparatus incorporating such structure is illustrated in FIG. 7.

In the system illustrated in FIG. 7, the continuous strip 3, consisting of a pair of coupled slide-fastener halves, is displaced by a transport mechanism generally designated 15. The strip passes through an assembly station comprising a plate 16 whose opening 17 receives a plunger 24 biased by a spring 24' to the left. At this .station, a slider-feed mechanism is provided, this mechanism including an upstanding magazine for the sliders Whose discharge end 19' cooperates with a slider-setting device 18. The latter comprises a ram or slide 25 whose front end 26 is recessed to receive a slider 7 so disposed that the slider itself can deflect the strip 3 (FIG. 3) and urge the plunger 24 to the right. The slider-mounting assembly 18 is controlled by a photocell 22 whose lamp 23 is designed to energize the photocell when a preformed window 6 of the strip 3 is disposed between the photocell 22 and the lamp 23. Ram 25 is reciprocable toward and away from the strip 3 below the magazine 19 by a crank mechanism comprising a crank 27 and a pitman 27 to take up successive sliders from the magazine and press them against the strip 3. Ram 25 is provided with a pair of relatively shiftable portions 25a and 25b biased away from one another by a compression spring 28 which defines the force with which the sliders 7 are held against the strip 3 and, therefore, the transverse force with which the strips are held against the plunger 24. This force can be adjusted by preloading the spring 28 or by employing a spring with the corresponding stiffness coefficient. The motor 31 for the crank drive 27, 27 is energized as a window passes the photocell 22 to press a slider 7 against the strip 3 before this window arrives at the location of the slider so that, with continued advance of strip 3, the slider 7 will spring into the window; the edges of this window, formed by the inclined stretches of the respective fastener elements, will thus be intercepted by the passages of the slider and the latter will then be drawn onto the continuously movable strip.

It is also possible to reverse the strip 3 by a temporary reversal of the motor 37 which rotates a drive roller 20; the strip 3 is held thereagainst by a spring-loaded counter-roller 21. Idlers 20' and 20" deflect the strip 3 to insure substantially positive entrainment. A further motor 40, coupled with drive rollers 41, can also be provided for this momentary and relatively slight reverse displacement of the strip to draw the slider relatively thereto in a fastener-closing direction (FIG. 6). During the return movement of the ram 25, the strip 3 can be displaced at a relatively high rate together with the slider 7 disposed thereon.

The apparatus of FIG. 7 operates as follows: The strip 3 is formed with windows 6 with or without application of the reinforcing-foil laminate 9 by a system such as that illustrated and described in the copending application mentioned above. The strip is then passed between a transport roller 29 and a brakeshoe 30 which, under the action of a spring 30', maintains the strip 3 under tension as the latter is displaced by rollers 20, 21 and motor 37 in the direction of the arrows. The photoelectric means 22, 23 senses the window 6 of the strip as the latter pass between the photoelectric cell 22 and the lamp 23 and the rotary solenoid of motor 31 is then energized to displace the ram 25 to the right whereby a slider from magazine 19 is carried by the ram against the strip 3. The slider, held by the ram 25, deflects the strip 3 out of its plane and shifts the plunger 24 to the right (FIG. 3) whereby continued movement of strip 3 draws the slider onto the fastener elements. A slider-assorting drum 32 cooperates with the magazine 19 to deposit the sliders with the proper orientation in the magazine, this drum functioning in the manner of rivet-sorting devices and the like. An electromagnetic or mechanical detent 33 feeds the sliders successively to the ram 25 upon each reciprocation of the latter thereby insuring that only a single slider 7 will be supplied during each stroke. Continued displacement of the strip 3 brings the window 6, into which this slider 7 has been inserted, into alignment with second photoelectric means (i.e. the photoelectric cell 34 and the lamp 35) to again actuate the solenoid 31 for the return stroke of the ram 25. The spacing of the second photoelectric means from the slide-mounting location will, of course, determine the distance through which the slider is displaced in the fastener-opening direction. The process is repeated when the next window is aligned with the photoelectric means 22, 23. The ram 25 is provided, according to this invention, with a plunger 35 designed to apply pressure to the head of a slider having automatic locking means preventing relative displacement of the slider and the strip, to release such locking means and permit an unobjectionable movement of the slider upon the strip.

After the slider 7 has been mounted upon the strip, the latter can be carried to a severing station diagrammatically presented by the blades 50, 51 at which the individual slide fasteners are cut from the continuous strip along the head of each T-shaped opening. Photoelectric means 52, 53 can be provided for operating the severing means 50, 51. If desired, the configurations of the end members of the slide fastener can be formed at a shaping station 54, 55 by hot-pressing of molding.

The motor 37 can be of the reversible pole, electricallybraked type and can be energized via the photoelectric means 22, 23. In this fashion, it is possible to displace the strip 3 at a high speed between insertions of the slider 7 in the strip. During such insertion, the speed of the strip can be substantially reduced. In this manner, an efficient utilization of the apparatus is possible especially for relatively long slide fasteners and, consequently, con-.

siderable distances between the windows.

We claim: I

1. An apparatus for assembling slide fasteners from a continuous strip having a pair of interlinked elongated fastener elements mounted upon respective bands and provided with windows between said elements at spaced locations along said strip, said apparatus comprising support means forming a slider-mounting station; transport means for displacing said strip past said station; supply means for successively feeding sliders to said station along one surface of said strip; ram means reciprocable perpendicularly to said surface and engageable with the successive sliders from said supply means for pressing said sliders through respective windows of said strip whereby relative displacement of said strip and the sliders pressed into engagement therewith through said windows in fastener-opening direction draws said sliders onto said strip through said windows; and photoelectric means for sensing the windows of said strip as the latter is displaced past said station for energizing said ram means, said sup port means being provided with a yieldable portion adjacent the other surface of said strip in alignment with the sliders applied by said ram means thereagainst and yieldable perpendicularly to said strip to permit said ram means to deflect said strip out of the plane of said strip upon pressure of the sliders thereagainst.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said ram means includes a slider having a front end provided with a recess for receiving said sliders, said supply means including a magazine and means for successively feeding said sliders to said recess, said slider comprising a pair of relatively displaceable members including a forward member formed with said recess and a rearward member spaced from said forward member; and spring means between said members for yieldably urging them apart, said ram means including electromagnetic means operatively coupled with said slide at said rearward member for reciprocating said members.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising plunger means engageable with said sliders for releasing self-locking devices thereof and permitting said sliders to be displaced relatively to said strip.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said transport means includes means for driving said strip at relatively high speed between insertions of sliders to said openings and at relatively low speed during such insertion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,116,544 1/1964 Fisher 29211 X 3,118,219 1/1964 Perrella 29208 3,353,256 11/1967 Frohlich et al 29-408 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 29-407 

